8 May 2002 - Corning Inc., New York, NY, and Alcoa Inc. have announced a strategic agreement for the supply of Corning optical fibre to Alcoa's AFL Telecommunications business to 2005. The multi-million kilometre agreement, worth more than USD100 million, ensures an increasing volume of Corning LEAF, MetroCor, SMF-28, SMF-28e and InfiniCor fibres to AFL Telecommunications to meet the latter's fibre requirements worldwide.
AFL will use the fibre to manufacture optical ground wire (OPT-GW), all-dielectric self-supporting (ADSS) cable and other fibre-optic cables, primarily for networks for the power utility market. The agreement also includes purchase of any new Corning optical fibres as they become commercially available. The two companies have had a long-term supply relationship for more than 15 years.
"This relationship with Corning ensures AFL a strategic long-term position in the fibre-optic cable market," said Frank Larence, president of AFL Telecommunications. "It ensures our ability to handle future customer needs as demand for fibre-optic cable increases."
AFL Telecommunications provides fibre-optic products, engineering expertise and integrated services to the electric utility, broadband, telco, OEM and private network markets. It has operations in the USA, Mexico and the UK. Parent company Alcoa claims to be the world's leading producer of primary aluminium, fabricated aluminium and alumina, and is active in all major aspects of the industry.